How to use Google sheets

I publish the CEAC data (for now) to Google Sheets as it gives a nice way to see the data and people can choose to look at the data there, or download it and do whatever they want to further analyze it. Google sheets provides normal spreadsheet functionality like summing up numbers, graphs, filters and so on. However, I am constantly asked to give numbers for “XXX” consulate. Well – I extract and publish the data so that people can look at whatever they want to look at – I don’t want to have to do it for everyone all the time!!

So – I thought it would be worth publishing this quick lesson on how to use Google sheets – it is NOT hard!

Let’s say you want to find how many visas have been issued at Nepal embassy.

1. Open up the most recent CEAC data that I have published and click on the Asia tab at the bottom of the page.

2. Look to the filter symbol (or option from the Data menu item) and choose “Create new temporary filter view”. Like this:-

3. When you have clicked on the create filter option you will see a drop down arrow by each column heading. Click the one by CON (consulate) and a box will pop up. In the filter box you will choose the embassy you are interested in. They are named by the abbreviation for the embassy name (Kathmandu is KDU for instance). You will clear all selection arrows first and then choose the embassy or embassies you want to pick. Like this:-

4. Once you do that you are looking at a list of data which only has the embassies you chose. You could then choose another column if you wish for instance to show only cases where the status is “Issued”. In the screenshot below I have done that so now I am looking at cases that are issued in Nepal. By clicking the column letter about the column heading of Issued, I select a column I am interested in and the spreadsheet shows the total for that column in the lower right hand corner of the page. Like this:-

That’s it! Very easy and then you can do whatever analysis you like!!!

How to use Google sheets